"I'd wager that Ed, for example, is proud of his online reputation."
Thanks for the nice words. I would like to add that nobody who knows me thinks that I hesitate to criticize anything I feel deserves it, be it Microsoft or anything or anyone else. Here's one example: I've caught flack for some things I've said about Exchange clusters, which, in retrospect, were probably unfair. But that flack did not come from the MVP Program, but from within the ranks of my employer. Ed Crowley MCSE+Internet MVP Freelance E-Mail Philosopher Protecting the world from PSTs and Bricked Backups!T -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Shotton Jolyon Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 12:51 AM To: Exchange Discussions Subject: RE: Greg's Utterly Fascinating Views on Ethics Well, titles can be very handy - we have an honours system in the UK that would seem to back that up. But they are not as valuable as personal reputation as is evidenced by the number of people that refuse these titles on point of principle - often very publicly. (As you have done with your MVP, it occurs to me.) I'd wager that Ed, for example, is proud of his online reputation. He would not want to be seen as being under the influence of Microsoft and if the MVP programme put him in that position or even if he felt it made a significant number of people consider him to be in that position I suspect he would not be pleased. Now 8 out of 10 list members who expressed a preference said their cats couldn't give a rat's rectum about Ed having an MVP so his reputation is intact and he's happy to continue to be an MVP. It is this issue of reputation that keeps the argument alive - not any great love or covetousness of the award. You could slag off Microsoft, Exchange, the MVP programme or the dreadful Christmas sweaters that people are wearing right now and any fuss you managed to produce would die down fairly quickly but it is the suggestion that reputations are tarnished by the acceptance of an MVP award that has got people's backs up to the extent they are. There are plenty of people on here who are not and are never likely to be MVPs but they are still prepared to argue the toss - they have no conflict of interests here, no business built on an ethical manifesto, no supplier plying them with trinkets, no particular reputation of their own to defend and no reason to defend the MVP programme. That they do suggests that they are genuine in their belief that it is harmless. -----Original Message----- From: Greg Deckler [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 22 December 2003 19:57 To: Exchange Discussions Subject: RE: Greg's Utterly Fascinating Views on Ethics John, you post some intelligent stuff I have to say. Yes, there is an order of magnitude argument to be had in all of this and you argue it well. I base my position on a couple of premises, but the main argument is: Titles are absolutely priceless and have the potential to be much, much more corrupting than any monetary gift. For proof, I will simply point to this entire discussion now 8 years old. At the mere mention that there *might* be a conflict of interest problem with the MVP title, which is what I posted 8 years ago, it has generated thousands upon thousands of hateful emails, dragged on over 8 YEARS and people STILL cannot let it go. That, in and of itself, proves how corrupting an influence it is. People are SO covetous of it that they cannot abide even the mere SUGGESTION that there might be an ethical conflict. The information contained in this e-mail is intended for the recipient or entity to whom it is addressed. It may contain confidential information that is exempt from disclosure by law and if you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute or take any act in reliance on it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete from your system. _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Web Interface: http://intm-dl.sparklist.com/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=exchange&text_mode=&lang =english To unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Web Interface: http://intm-dl.sparklist.com/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=exchange&text_mode=&lang=english To unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
